Metal frame for upholstered furniture



June 9, 1953 Filed Sept; '1, 1949 G. INGRAM, JR., ET AL METAL FRAME FOR UPI-IOLSTERED FURNITURE v 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 9, 1953 4 G.INGRAM,'JR., ETAL I 2,641,311

METAL FRAME FOR UPI-IOLSTERED FURNITURE Filed Sept. 1, 1949 Y m/VEfl raPs asoez avaeam; J3,

Have H0 we- 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 9, 1953 G. INGRAM, JR., ET AL 2,641,311

v METAL FRAME F OR UPHOLSTERED F URNITURE Filed Sept. 1, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 9, 1953 G. INGRAM, JR., ET AL 3 1 METAL FRAME FOR UPHOLSTEREb FURNITURE Filed Sept. 1, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 km E Patented June 9, 1953 UNITED METAL FRAME FOR UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE George Ingram, J r., Southend-on-Sea, and Henry Howe, Hockley, England Application September 1, 1949, Serial No. 113,612 In Great Britain April 6, 1949 4 Claims.

This invention relates to upholstered chairs, settees and the like constructed from metal framework upon which the upholstery and springs are to be carried and of the type in which the metal framework is made up of separately constructed skeleton units attached together to constitute the complete skeleton framework of the chair or settee. In this type of furniture two forms of skeleton unit are employed, viz: an end unit including the whole side of the piece of furniture complete with arm rest, and a seat unit which combines the actual seat and the backrest. In constructing a chair, a pair of end units are fitted to an intermediate seat unit, and for a settee, two or more seat units are fixed together with an end unit at each end, although a single longer seat unit may alternatively be used.

The object of the present invention is to make a very sturdy yet lightweight article of the foregoing type from skeleton metal units, and one moreover in which the seat unit is a rigidly braced box-like member yet without side framework interfering with the action of the spring unit mounted thereon.

According to the invention, an article of upholstered furniture of the type hereinbefore described includes a seat unit having a rectangular base frame with ends and sides upstanding therefrom, making a box-like form, the two sides thereof being each constructed with a depression or well to afford a clearance for the sides of the depressible spring frame mounted on the top of the unit. The upstanding end at the back of the unit is continued upwards to constitute the backrest. When the seat unit is assembled between the two end units, the aforesaid rectangular base frame preferably rests on the ground, with or without the interposition of stud-feet, casters or the like. The frame members, from which the skeleton units are constructed, are advantageously L-section metal angle bars.

In order that the invention may be readily understood an embodiment thereof will be described by way of example with the aid of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective View of the rigid skeleton framework constituting a seat unit (one upper corner at the back having been broken away to illustrate more clearly the section of various angle members);

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a skeleton end unit, i. e. one of the ends adapted to be fixed respectively to the sides of the seat unit of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional plan view of an end unit, taken on the plane III-III in Figure 2 Figure 4 is a side elevation of the seat unit-seen in Figure 1 with the seat and back spring frames in position;

Figure 5 is a plan view of Figure 4 with the lower half in section taken on the line VV of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional View on the line VIVI of Figure 4 (one half only being shown for convenience); and

Figure '7 is a perspective view to a larger scale, of a fragment of the corner of framework seen in the upper left of Figure 4, and. referred to later.

With reference to the illustrated embodiment, an article of furniture according to the invention would comprise a pair of end units as seen in Figures 2 and 3, and one or more seat units (depending on whether a chair or settee is to be built) as seen in Figures 1, 4 and 6. The units are fastened together and suitably upholstered.

Taking the seat unit first; this comprises as seen in Figures 1, 4, 5, and 6(and particularly Figure l) a pair of sides generally indicated as A made up from a rigid assembly of base bar 1 with upstanding bars 2 and 3 at front and back respectively, and upper platform parts described later, this pair of sides A being joined together to make a box-like conformation by front and back frames B and C respectively. Each side is made from L-section bar with flanges 4 and 5 (see Figure '7) mainly from a single length bent to form an elongated side to the rectangular base of the seat unit which is formed when the two spaced apart sides A are erected to form the boxlike conformation previously described, composed of the two sides A, the front B and the back C. The base I of the sides A is continued by \I-notching at 6 the outside flange 4 (Figure 7) and bending into the front and rear verticals 2 and 3, which then similarly continue by inward bending and V-notching one flange to form two short lengths I of the side of the upper platform. This inward bending as seen at the top of the upright 2 forms a substantially right-an-- gular corner which is the fragment shown enlarged in Figure 7. The space between the short lengths l which interrupts the platform or top of the sides A forms the opening to a depression or well, and a truncated V-shape bracing frame D joins the ends of the two short lengths 1 to the elongated side I forming part of the rectangular base of the seat unit. The bracing frame is itself a single continuous bent length of L-section bar,

joined at its top to the platform lengths 7, 1. by suitable strong gusset plates 8, andto the' elongated side of the rectangular base of the unit by a lap plate 9. The top gusset plates constitute strong members to receive bolts H] for securing thereto either another seat unit as in Figure 1 or a chair or settee end unit as in Figure 2.

To connect together these sides of' the seat unit (Figure 1'), a single length of vsimilar ,L- section angle bar (such as shown in Figure 7) is V-notched along one flange and bent into a rectangular shape to form the front frame B and at each side this is snugly housed within and attached to the angles between the flanges 4 and 5 (Figure 7) of the L-bars ofthe 1 66 upper and lower horizontalslii and it respectively and verticals l5, and constitutes ithet'front of the box-like seat unit, and it maybe covered by a metal panel I I.

At the back the sides Arare connected together by .an upstanding backrest frame C in theform of a .continuouslength of ...l -.sectio,n metal bar notched and bent into fiat-bottomed 1U form having :a cross bar and .sides l2,.,and into the SidGSLlI'Of .this .backrestframe C the. two sides A of the seat unit are fitted and connected, the legs of the .U' (i. -.e..the.sides 1.2.) continuing upwards a suitable .distanceaccording to the height of the backrest. A second .u frame is .fitted in an inverted manner with its base Ll spanning the tops of the upstandingleg-s 1.2 .of the first mentioned U .and its legs J18 extending downwardly and inclined forwardly, where at their respective ends, they =are-seoured .to .the rear short platform -lengths 7 .of .the..respective sides A. The combination of cross bars M .and I6 and the elongated .bars [at each .side constitute a rectangular baseior .the box=likeseat unit.

-.A backrest bracing bar..l,9 :(Figure .1.) is fixed horizontally between :the .two upstanding legs l2 of the ,first mentioned .U frame (I approximately-at the same level. as the front-cross .bar 13 of .the :seat unit, i. e. at upper platform level, and .a seat .bracing ibarlllissecured.across the platform frame at the rear .of the side wells (between the aforesaid forwardly .propecting .short lengths 1.

-A=seat spring unit is mounted on-the platform frame, being slung between the frontcross .bar it thereof .and the aforesaid seat bracing .bar 20. :As-usual, this .springunit comprises a ,bottom :assembly 7 of parallel rows of liensionsprings 2i whichiassemblyisithe part slungasdescribed above) and-an upper wire .mesh :panel .22 Supported fioatingly thereon .by coiled compression springs 23. This wire mesh panel .is surrounded by .a flexible frame, .and the. sides of said fra liemoreor lessdirectly over the sides I! of the aforesaid .p'latform frame ,of the seat unit, and thus when .pressed downby the weight of an occupant of the chairor settee, the wells formed by the frames D of the sides "Apreviously described allow unimpeded movement.

A backrest spring unit 24 is mounted on the backrest frame described.

The space between the '"backrest spacing bar 19 and base frame member 16 may befilledin by a sheet metal panel 25 as described-in connection' with'the' front "of the seat'unit.

"With regard to'the end units "as seen in Fi ures '2 and'3, these "are similarly constructed of angle section metal bars, "and "in general comprise two open-sided frames '26, "21, 28 and 29 which .are of "approximate rectangular shape joined together by spacing members. The said sides are the cross elements 30.

Q8 of the vertical side frames.

apart sides A. The said front frameBzcQmmises smetazlilfiiwextending a suitable distance along the top and sides ,of ,the space between the two verticalside frames. *One of the side frames of the end unit is adapted to be attached to the sideqof :;a seat unit as hereinbefore described. For this purpose one side of the end unit which is to. be attached is provided with .an attachment bar-2 running from .the front upright .26 .tothe back upright .28 .and said her, 32 .is provided with holes .3.3 through which the attachment bolt 1!! shown ,in ,position in .the aforesaid gusset .pla e 8 (Figure 1,) can .be passed. The end .unitsare right and ,left handed, one of .eachpair having the {attachment .bar .32 on one side, and one .on the other. The attachment of .the .various seat and .end units togetherness! hotnecessarily be permanent; on .the .contrarythe use .of .the attachment bolts ill in the lmannerdescribed renders the :complete article of furniture capable of ready dismantling for such purposes :as storage, transit-conversion -:of .a chair into a settee, -.or lengthening of-,a two-seat-,settee.

We claim:

luFIhe combination ,-in an-article of furniture of separately constructed skeleton metal framework unitsyincluding ,a seat unit comprising two side frames :each composed 1 of a length I of L-sectionismetalangle bar ;forming a base bar, front andrrear vertical members, rtwoeinwardly extend ing platform parts and a truncated v-shaped bracing apart therebetweeni-forming -,a well, :the base sof which :iS secured'to said bar, and also comprising affront frame composed of a continuous length of .L-section metal angle bar bent into a rectangular'shapemy:slitting onefiange of said Etbar at each bend, :saidfront frame being secured in the angles of said front vertical members of said side frames, -a depressible spring frame -mounte'd on said seat unit with the sides thereof disposed for unimpeded movement above the wells of :said side frames, and a backrest frame including a continuous length of L-section metal bar bent-into U-shape with the base thereof extending between the'said side frames, of which said rear =vertical members are secured in the angles of the upstanding limbs of said U-shaped. back-rest frame, and also including a second U-shaped frame inverted with respect to said first-mentioned 'U-shaped frame with the baseof said second U-shaped frame spanning the tops of the upstanding legs of said first U-frame and withthe legs of said second U-frame extended clownwardsandinclined forwards to meet and be united with the inwardly. directed platformparts at the rear of said side "frames.

2. An article of furniture according to claim 1, including a bracing bar extending between and securedto the inwardly directed platform parts atv the rear of saidside frames, said .depressible spring beins slun betwe n said. bracing .barand an upper horizontal bar forming part of said front frame.

3. The combination in an article of furniture of separately constructed skeleton metal framework units including a seat unit comprising two side frames each composed of a length of L-section metal angle bar forming a base bar, front and rear vertical members, two inwardly extending platform parts and a truncated V-shaped bracing part therebetween forming a well, the base of which is secured to said bar, and also comprising a front frame composed of a continuous length of L-section metal angle bar bent into a rectangular shape by slitting one flange of said bar at each bend, said front frame being secured in the angles of said front vertical members of said side frames, a depressible spring frame mounted on said seat unit with the sides thereof disposed for unimpeded movement above the wells of said side frames, and a backrest frame including a continuous length of L-section metal bar bent into U-shape with the base thereof extending between the said side frames, of which said rear vertical members are secured in the angles of the upstanding limbs of said U-shaped backrest frame, a second U-shaped frame inverted with respect to said first-mentioned U-shaped frame with the base of said second U-shaped frame spanning the tops of the upstanding legs of said first U-frame and with the legs of said second U-frame extended downwards and inclined forwards to meet and be united with the inwardly directed platform parts at the rear of said side frames, and also including an end unit attached to each side of the seat unit, each end unit comprising two spaced apart open-sided vertical frames of L-section metal angle bar of approximate rectangular shape, and a base connecting said frames together and comprising a one-piece bent rectangular frame of L-section metal angle bar fitted into the angles of said vertical frames.

4. A settee constructed from four skeleton metal framework units comprising a pair of seat units attached together side by side and each comprising two side frames each composed of a length of L-section metal angle bar forming a base bar, front and rear vertical members, two

inwardly extending platform parts and a truncated V-shaped bracing part therebetween forming a well, the base of which is secured to said bar, and also comprising a front frame composed of a length of L-section metal angle bar bent into a rectangular shape by slitting one flange of said bar at each bend, said front frame being secured in the angles of said front vertical members of said side frames, a depressible spring frame mounted on said seat unit with the sides thereof disposed for unimpeded movement above the wells of said side frames, and a backrest frame including a continuous length of L-section metal bar bent into U-shape with the base thereof extending between the said side frames, of which said rear vertical members are secured in the angles of the upstanding limbs of said U-shaped backrest frame, and also including a second U-shaped frame inverted with respect to said first-mentioned U-shaped frame with the base of said second U-shaped frame spanning the tops of the upstanding legs-of said first U-frame and with the legs of said second U-frame extended downwards and inclined forwards to meet and be united with the inwardly directed platform parts at the rear of said side frames, and the others of said units being end units attached to the sides of the joined-together pair of seat units, and each comprising two spaced apart open-sided vertical frames of L-section metal angle bar of approximate rectangular shape, and a base connecting said frames together and comprising a one-piece bent rectangular frame of L-section metal angle bar fitted into the angles of said vertical frames.

GEORGE INGRAM, JR. HENRY HOWE.

References Cited in the file o this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,647,926 McGeough Nov. 1, 1927 1,987,940 Levine Jan. 15, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 381,893 Great Britain Oct. 13, 1932 460,485 Great Britain Jan. 28, 1937 587,119 Great Britain Apr. 15, 1947 

